Register of the Robert Erickson Papers
MSS.96
Finding aid prepared by Mandeville Special Collections Library
Mandeville Special Collections Library
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California, 92093-0175
858-534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Copyright 2012
Title: Robert Erickson Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.96
Contributing Institution:
Mandeville Special Collections Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
19.3 Linear feet
(28 archives boxes, 11 oversized flat boxes, 3 cassettes boxes, 1.5 LP/reel-to-reel boxes, 1 records carton)
Date (inclusive): 1940 - 1996
Abstract: Papers of Robert Erickson, American composer and co-founder of the Music Department at the University of California, San Diego.
The collection is comprised of correspondence, holograph music scores, materials relating to Erickson's teachings at UCSD
and his work with the Center for Music Experiment, and recordings of performances and appearances on several media formats
including audio cassette, VHS, Beta, and reel-to-reel.
creator:
Erickson, Robert, 1917-1997
Biography
Born in Marquette, Michigan on March 7, 1917, Erickson studied composition with Austrian composer Ernst Krenek at Hamline
University in St. Paul and graduated in 1943. After three years in the Army, he returned to Hamline, receiving an M.A. in
music in 1947.
Erickson began his career teaching composition at the College of St. Catherine's in St. Paul. He then taught at the University
of California, Berkeley, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, before becoming one of the founders of the Department
of Music at the University of California, San Diego, in 1967.
Erickson is known for his use of the 12-tone system, sounds recorded on tape, and self-made instruments. His works have been
performed and commissioned by the Minneapolis, San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles Symphony Orchestras, the American Composers
Orchestra, and ensembles including the Arch Ensemble, Continuum, the Kronos Quartet, the Sequoia Quartet and SONOR.
In addition to receiving the Ford Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Yaddo fellowships, Erickson has been the
recipient of numerous awards including the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy and Institute of Arts and
Letters, the Drew Prize in Music Composition, and, in 1985, the Kennedy Center Friedheim Award for excellence in chamber music
for his string quartet, Solstice.
Throughout his career, Erickson published numerous articles and authored two books:
The Structure of Music: A Listener's Guide in 1957 and
Sound Structures in Music in 1975.
Erickson died on April 24, 1997.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Robert Erickson Papers document Erickson's career as a composer, musician and faculty member at the University of California,
San Diego. The papers are arranged in six series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) MUSIC, 4) UCSD MATERIALS,
5) WRITINGS, and 6) MEDIA.
SERIES 1: BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS series includes articles about Erickson, family photos, documents on Erickson's family history,
and datebooks and journals dating 1940 to 1981.
SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE
The CORRESPONDENCE series dates from 1940 to 1996. This series contains letters from professional colleagues including mentor
Ernst Krenek, fellow composers Will Ogdon and Charles Shere, musicians Stuart Dempster and Bert Turetzky, American music critic
Alan Rich, and photographer and supporter Betty Freeman, among others.
Erickson's original order has been maintained: correspondence is filed chronologically with the exception of one folder containing
Erickson's correspondence with Ernst Krenek.
SERIES 3: MUSIC
The MUSIC series is comprised of three subseries: A) Compositions, B) Programs and Reviews, and C) Other Projects.
A) The Compositions subseries is arranged chronologically from 1961-1990, and contains mostly handwritten sheet music and
music sketches for single instruments, ensembles, and orchestras. A sub subseries of Compositions includes Oversized music
scores which make up the a sizable portion of the materials.
B) The Programs and Reviews subseries is arranged chronologically from 1941-2001, and includes both original and photocopied
programs and reviews of live and recorded performances of Erickson's work.
C) The Other Projects subseries contains grant applications, research proposals, and Erickson's research notes on instrument
and speaker system ideas.
SERIES 4: UCSD MATERIALS
The UCSD MATERIALS series is comprised of two subseries: A) Teaching Materials and B) Music Department.
A) The Teaching Materials subseries contains syllabi, handouts, and lecture notes grouped by class and arranged chronologically.
Also included are annotated writings by others and subject files of research notes and article clippings used in Erickson's
teachings. These materials are arranged alphabetically by subject or author.
B) The Music Department subseries, dating from 1973 to 1987, contains correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports and proposals
documenting the early years of the UCSD Music Department.
SERIES 5: WRITINGS
The WRITINGS series is arranged into three subseries: A)
Sound Structure in Music, B) Articles and Books, and C) Notebooks.
A) The
Sound Structure in Music subseries includes handwritten and typed drafts of chapters of Erickson's book, photocopied reviews, and correspondence regarding
publishing matters.
B) The Articles and Books subseries is arranged chronologically and includes typescript and handwritten drafts and research
notes. Included are Erickson's unpublished memoirs, "Remembered Sounds and Hearing Things: Autobiographical Essays."
C) The Notebooks subseries includes a series of nineteen notebooks wherein Erickson recorded his research, thoughts, experiment
ideas, diagrams, and article clippings on the subject of timbre. Other notebooks, arranged by date, contain similar content
on subjects ranging from orchestra to texture to composition ideas.
SERIES 6: MEDIA
The MEDIA series is arranged by format into five subseries: A) Images, B) VHS and Beta Cassette Tapes, C) Audio Cassettes,
D) Reel-to-Reel, and E) LPs.
A) The Images subseries containing mostly black and white prints, is organized by subject, and includes portraits of Erickson
and candids of him in workshop and classroom settings. Four folders contain images relating to articles found in the WRITINGS
series.
B) The VHS and Beta Cassette Tapes subseries include a recording of New World of Sound, dated 1969, some undated videos and
undated tapes of "Erickson Archive" number 1-6.
C) The Audio Cassettes subseries includes "Erickson Archive" numbers 1-12 which date from 1968-1984 and undated as well as
other audio cassettes from various sessions and performances, including Erickson Festival: Kronos Quartet dated March 1, 1987.
D) The Reel-to-Reel subseries includes 30 audio reels (fourteen 10 1/2", thirteen 7", and three 5") which span from 1957-1984
of performances, sound studies and recordings of his music.
E) The LPs subseries consists of 7 LPs created during Erickson's time at Hamline University (1940s).
Restrictions
Audiovisual materials, including VHS, Beta, audiocassettes, LPs, and reel-to-reel recordings, are restricted. Patrons must
request user copies be produced.
Acquisition Information
Not Available
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Preferred Citation
Robert Erickson Papers, MSS 96. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Erickson, Robert, 1917-1997 -- Archives
Krenek, Ernst, 1900-1991, correspondent
University of California, San Diego. Dept. of Music -- Archives.
Composers -- United States -- Archives
Music -- 20th century -- Archives
Music -- Instruction and study -- Archives
Orchestral music -- Scores
Box 1, Folder 2
College diplomas
1946-1948
Box 1, Folder 3
Erickson's uncle Harold's diary
1919-1930
Box 1, Folder 4, Oversize FB-506-01
Erik-Alt, Lenore (wife of Robert Erickson) - Notes and drawing; New Year's Greeting (Bob and Lenore, 1968)
1940-1955
Box 1, Folder 5
Family documents - Photocopies
1898-1906
Box 1, Folder 7
Interviews of Robert Erickson
1982
Box 1, Folder 8
Media appearances
1956-1970
Box 1, Folder 9
School and university papers
Box 1, Folder 10
University of California at San Diego Robert Erickson celebration - Booklet
1987
Box 2, Folder 1-4
Articles and newsclippings about Erickson
1946-1987
Box 6, Folder 4
Correspondence with Ernst Krenek
1940-1985
Box 6, Folder 5
List of compositions
1940-1980
Box 6, Folder 7
Timings for the music of Robert Erickson
Box 11, Folder 15, Oversize MC-021-01
Graphic score for a chamber ensemble, various parts
1965
Oversize FB-506-01
New Year's Greetings- Robert and Lenore Erickson, 1968. Portrait of Robert Erickson- Pen drawing on rice paper by Lenore Erik-Alt
1955
Oversize FB-506-02
Sound Structure in Music - Illustrations
Oversize FB-506-06
Oversize music theory charts
undated
Box 14, Folder 4
Artifact - Musical theory reference tool
Box 14, Folder 5
Computer research proposals
Box 14, Folder 6
"Empirical Studies Introductory to a Theory of Timbre Music"
undated
Box 14, Folder 7
"Ensemble Timbre Experiments"
1974
Box 14, Folder 8-9
Grant applications
1966-1984
Box 14, Folder 10
Electronic organ/speaker system - Plans and research notes
Box 14, Folder 11
Instrument project - Plans and research notes
Box 14, Folder 12
"Making Music on Homemade Instruments"
1980
Box 14, Folder 14
Patent fund application for speaker system
Box 15, Folder 1
Seminar 206: Timbre
1969-1985
Box 15, Folder 2
Graduate seminars
1974-1978
Box 15, Folder 3
Music 102: Music Theory
1974-1984
Box 15, Folder 4
Music 209: Contemporary Orchestral Music
1975-1979
Box 15, Folder 5
Melodic tonality seminar
1978
Box 15, Folder 6
Musicianship seminar
1978
Box 15, Folder 7
Musicianship I and II, Book
Box 15, Folder 9
Music 210: Music Analysis
1978-1979
Box 15, Folder 10
Music 6: Musical Masterworks
1980
Box 15, Folder 12
Composition seminar
1981-1982
Box 15, Folder 13
Music 3: Bali Lecture
1982
Box 16, Folder 1
Seminar 209B: The Opulent Orchestra
1982-1986
Box 16, Folder 2
Seminar 209B: The Orchestra Between the Wars
1982-1987
Box 16, Folder 3
Seminar 209A: The Orchestra Since 1945
1983
Box 17, Folder 6-7, Oversize FB-506-06
Box 18, Folder 10
Babbit, Milton - "Who Cares if You Listen?" Annotated
1958
Box 18, Folder 11
Balzano, Jerry - Untitled. Chapter excerpts with correspondence
1980
Box 18, Folder 12
Barzun, Jacques - "The Meaning of Meaning in Music: Berlioz Once More"
1980
Box 18, Folder 13
Birnbaum, Daniel "Lost Hills"
1980
Box 18, Folder 14
Duberman, Martin - "Black Mountain: An Exploration in Community"
1972
Box 18, Folder 15
Grey, John M. - "Musical Timbre Discrimination in Temporal Contexts." With correspondence
1977-1978
Box 19, Folder 1
Griffin, Elinor - Untitled. Chapter excerpts with correspondence
1976
Box 19, Folder 2
Johnson, Mark - " 'Jeffered' by Peter: An Analysis of Musical Organization." With correspondence
1979
Box 19, Folder 3
Plomp, R. and Bouman, M.A. - "Relation Between Hearing Threshold and Duration for Tone Pulse." Annotated
1959
Box 19, Folder 4
Rush, Loren - "Mandala Music"
undated
Box 19, Folder 5
Schoenberg, Arnold - "Erecting the Sound Image"
1946
Box 19, Folder 6
Stewart, John L. - Outline of Krenek book. With correspondence
1979
Box 19, Folder 7
Tuzin, Donald - "Sound, Ritual and 'Peak-Experience' "
1973
Box 19, Folder 10
Department seminar
1978-1984
Box 19, Folder 11
Meeting minutes
1974-1984
Box 19, Folder 12
Reports and proposals
1973-1984 and undated
Box 19, Folder 13, Oversize MC-21-06
Erickson UCSD Music Department posters, 1987
Box 20, Folder 5
Chapter 1 typescript with Will Ogdon's edits
Box 20, Folder 6
Introduction - Typescript draft
Box 20, Folder 7
"Timbre: What is it?" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 20, Folder 8-9
"Timbre and Pitch" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 21, Folder 1-2
"Timbre and Time" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 21, Folder 3-4
"Timbre in Texture" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 21, Folder 5-6
"Klangfarbenmelodie: Problems of Linear Organization" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 21, Folder 7
"Drones" - Typescript and handwritten notes
Box 21, Folder 9
Research notes - Typescript and handwritten
Box 22, Folder 3, Oversize FB-506-02
Oversize illustrations for book
Box 22, Folder 4
Mock-up with negatives and handwritten notes
Box 22, Folder 5
Reviews and correspondence
Box 27, Folder 5-6
Photographs of Robert Erickson
Box 28, Folder 1-2
Portraits of Robert Erickson
Box 28, Folder 5
"Ad Hoc Musical Instruments" - Black and white prints
1968
Related Archival Materials note
Related materials can be found in Box 22, Folder 13.
Box 28, Folder 6
"Back in the Shop" - Black and white prints and one slide
1975
Related Archival Materials note
Related materials can be found in Box 23, Folder 8.
Box 28, Folder 7
Greek music - Black and white prints
Related Archival Materials note
Related materials can be found in Box 17, Folder 2.
Box 28, Folder 8
"Tunable Tube Drums" - Black and white prints
Related Archival Materials note
Related materials can be found in Box 25, Folder 10.
Oversize MC-21-07
Robert Erickson in his studio, portrait, undated
VHS and Beta Cassette Tapes
Box 31, Folder 1-4
New World of Sound - KOGO TV Channel 10
1969
Box 31, Folder 5-6
Robert Erickson videos
undated
Box 31, Folder 7-12
Erickson Archive number 1-6
Box 29, Folder 1-12
"Erickson Archive" number 1-12
1968-1984 and undated
Box 29, Folder 13
"Robert Erickson"
undated
Box 29, Folder 14-15
"Auroras"
1984 and undated
Box 29, Folder 16
"Dunbar's Delight" - First performance
May 6, 1985
Box 29, Folder 17
Erickson program - KFAC
March 10, 1987
Box 29, Folder 19-20
"The Idea of Order at Key West"
1979-1980
Box 29, Folder 21
"Night Music" and "Garden"
undated
Box 30, Folder 1
Petersen "Monopoly Mix" and Erickson "Do It"
1966
Box 30, Folder 4
"Solstice" (1985) and "Sequoia Quartet"
undated
Box 30, Folder 8
Erickson Festival: Kronos Quartet - "Solstice"
March 1, 1987
Box 30, Folder 9
Krenek - "Concerto for Violin"
undated
Box 28, Folder 10-11
"Job Choruses" by Robert Erickson
undated
Box 28, Folder 12
"Little Trio" for violin, viola and piano
undated
Box 28, Folder 13
"Pastorale," music by Robert Erickson
undated
Box 28, Folder 14
"The Star Song" and "I Saw a Sweet Silly Sight" by Robert Erickson
undated
7 1/2 IPS, 1/4", 7" diameter
Box 32, Folder 1
"Peter," Movie Tape I (a)
Box 32, Folder 2
"Peter," Movie Tape I (b)
Box 32, Folder 5-7
"Time and Chance in Contemporary Music"
Box 32, Folder 8
"Down at Piraeus," Performance Tape
Box 32, Folder 9
"Down at Piraeus," Performance, May 14, 1970, Jerome Rosen, Conductor
Box 32, Folder 10-11
"I am R.E.'s Keeper," July 23, 1984, Reel 1 and 2
Box 32, Folder 12
"White Lady," for wind emsemble
Box 32, Folder 13
"LOOPS," an informal timbre experiment, Master
7 1/2/ IPS, 1/4", 5" diameter
Box 32, Folder 14
"Elegy for solo percussion," Jerome Rosen
Box 32, Folder 15
"Nine and a Half for Henry"
Box 32, Folder 16
Sound examples illustrating "Computer Study of Trumpet Tones"
Box 32, Folder 17
Notes relating to reel to reels, 1956 and undated
Box 32, Folder 18
"Computer Study of Trumpet Tones," Risset, J.C., 1969
General note
Relates to reel to reel recording "Sound Examples Illustrating..." Box 32, Folder 16
15 IPS, 1/2", 10 1/2" diameter
Box 33, Folder 1
"4 track Bells Master," Jack Williams
Box 33, Folder 5
"Nine and a Half for Henry," Master
15 IPS, 1/4", 10 1/2" diameter
Box 33, Folder 9
"Down at Piraeus," Stereo Dub 15
Box 33, Folder 10
"The End of the Music," from concert March 19, 1967
Box 33, Folder 11
January ACA Composer Program, "Chamber Music," January 6, 1957
Box 34, Folder 1
Music Improvisations from Griffin Nursery School, January 22, 1964
Box 34, Folder 2
Piano improvisations by Claudia and Betsy and group drumming. Griffin Nursery School, May 1955
